EP21: Rocketing to the Moon, The Dawn of Space Exploration

What if one moment in history could fuel a lifelong passion for space and technology? For me, that moment was watching space shuttle launches as a kid in Florida. In this episode of Tech Travels, we’re rewinding to the dawn of the US space program in the 1950s—a time when the impossible was about to become reality.

Join us as we uncover how post-WWII innovations and the tensions of the Cold War sparked a race to the stars. We’ll explore the crucial role of Operation Paperclip in bringing visionary scientists like Wernher von Braun to America, where they laid the groundwork for the Redstone rocket and Alan Shepard’s daring journey into space.

The Space Race wasn’t just a battle of technology; it was a cultural revolution. We’ll dive into the Mercury program, the challenges of building spacecraft with 1950s and 60s technology, and how this era inspired groundbreaking works like Star Trek and 2001: A Space Odyssey. This was a time when anything seemed possible, and the dream of space exploration captured the world’s imagination.

Experience the thrilling moments of Apollo 11 as we take you through the towering Saturn V rocket’s launch, Neil Armstrong’s historic first steps, and the cutting-edge technology like the Apollo Guidance Computer that made it all possible. It’s a story of human ingenuity, perseverance, and the unyielding desire to explore the unknown.

As we reflect on the legacy of the moon landing, we’ll also set the stage for what comes next: the era of satellites and the birth of our interconnected world. So, stay curious, and join us on this epic journey through the history of space exploration!

Chapters

• 0:05 Exploring the Origins of Space Exploration
• 17:14 Cultural Impact of Space Race
• 24:48 The Cultural Impact of Space Travel
• 33:34 The Challenges of Moon Landing Technology
• 42:38 Advancements in Apollo Moon Mission Technology
• 52:40 Space Exploration's Enduring Legacy

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:05

Welcome to Tech Travels hosted by the seasoned tech enthusiast and industry expert, steve Woodard. With over 25 years of experience and a track record of collaborating with the brightest minds in technology, steve is your seasoned guide through the ever-evolving world of innovation. Join us as we embark on an insightful journey, exploring the past, present and future of tech under Steve's expert guidance.

Speaker 2: 0:32

Hello and welcome back to Tech Troubles. I'm especially excited about today's episode because we're kicking off the first part of a three-part series that dives deep into a topic that has fascinated me since my childhood, growing up in Florida in the 1980s. Watching the space shuttles launching from the space pad, feeling that to ground tremble and then seeing the shuttles ascend into the sky really sparked a lifelong interest in both space and technology and really my curiosity for exploration really possible. And recently, with all the buzz that's happening around with SpaceX and Blue Origin and also the resurgence of space exploration, I thought it would be the perfect time to revisit the origins of this fascination around the space race. But this isn't just a single episode. It really is going to be a journey through time. But this isn't just a single episode, it really is going to be a journey through time.

Speaker 2: 1:26

In this series we're going to cover three key periods in the history of the space exploration program. So in part one today's episode, we're going to explore the very beginnings of the space program, starting up in the 1950s that led up to the monumental moon landing in 1969. In part two we're going to dive into the age of launching satellites into space, and that really started a curiosity around what made them work. We're going to look at how systems such as communication, weather forecasting, were revolutionized during this time, and then also the global positioning of these systems. And then finally, in our third part, we're going to cover the dawn of the modern space shuttle era, from its inception in the late 1970s all the way through to the early 2000s, and then this will basically wind down with the shuttle program ending in the mid-2000s. So in this first episode we're going to dive deep into the technological marvels and engineering feats that really defined the early days of the space program, showing how these advancements weren't really just about reaching the moon but how they were about shaping the future. And we'll also, of course, as part of my favorites, we'll also touch on pop culture, history and how it's basically how it mirrored this journey during this time and and how it inspired generations to dream big.

Speaker 2: 2:48

So as we look at the first segment, we look at the pioneers of the flight, of the foundations of the US space program. As we embark on the journey, it's really kind of important for us to understand the history of the US space program and how it really was essential to lay in the groundwork for what we immediately saw after World War II. The advancements in rocketry and aviation during the war really set the stage for the space race that would unfold in the following decades. However, the journey to the stars was also really deeply intertwined with a certain type of political climate at the time. It was marked by intense rivalry, secrecy and pervasive fear of the unknown.

Speaker 2: 3:31

So in the aftermath of World War II, as the Cold War was beginning to take shape, the United States initiated Operation Paperclip. This was the convert program, designed to bring over 1600 German scientists, engineers and technicians to America. Now, many of these individuals had been involved in the Nazi rocket program, including the development of the V2 rocket, which was the world's first long-range ballistic guided missile. And among these prominent scientists was a person named Wner von Braun, a visionary who had long dreamed of space exploration. Now, once they relocated to the United States, von Braun and his team were instrumental in advancing America's early rocket programs. Now they worked in the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, alabama, and the recruitment of these scientists really was a political sensitive issue. Many of them did have direct ties to the Nazi regime, and their involvement in wartime atrocities was also downplayed or relatively just kept secret, although the US government did, of course, face a decline. On one hand, they needed the expertise of the individuals to compete with the Soviet Union. On the other hand, they had to manage the moral and ethical implications of employing former Nazis. Despite these challenges, the experts brought on by Wernher von Braun and his team were crucial in the development of the Redstone rocket. This was a direct descendant of the V-2 rocket which was used during World War II, and it would play a pivotal role in the US's space program. Before NASA was even a concept, the US Army, under the guidance of Wernher von Braun, was already making strides in certain types of rocket development. Now the Redstone rocket became the basis for America's first successful satellite launch and it was used in several early space missions. So if you think about Alan Shepard, he was one of the first Americans in space, and this period has really kind of marked the beginning of the concerted effort to understand and harness rocket technology and how it really set the future for achievements in space exploration.

Speaker 2: 5:53

Now, during this time, there was a lot of undercurrent of fear and uncertainty among the American public. The idea of going to space was both thrilling and a very terrifying idea. Space was the great unknown and many people were concerned about the potential dangers, both physical and political, of venturing into this new frontier. The fear of Soviet domination in space also added into this anxiety, as people worried about the implications of space-based weapons or even mass surveillance. Now, just kind of taking a step back for a second here, I could think of this and look at it from this perspective is I can only imagine what it must have felt like to really live during this time with a world that was on the brink of a new era and exploration and conflict.

Speaker 2: 6:41

Growing up in Florida in the 1980s, I often heard stories from older generations about these early days of the program and I think that there was definitely a mix of excitement and both fear and excitement around the possibilities of space exploration, but also what it could have mean for you know, things like global security, and I think the reminder was that the space race wasn't just about technology, it was really about, you know that, the hearts and minds of the people in both America and around the world. Now also, as I think, as America even pushed and moved closer into the idea of space exploration, you start to see a group of pioneers really starting to kind of emerge, and each of them were contributing in their own unique way to the advancement of rocket science and spaceflight as well. And these individuals really weren't just pushing the boundaries of technology. I think that they were really pushing and challenging the very limits of human capability and imagination. So one of them, for example, is what I had already mentioned was in front Von Braun, right, he was the visionary rocket scientist and his influence was critical in shaping America's space program.

Speaker 2: 7:52

You know, long before the exploration was even feasible, von Braun was advocating for the development of large rockets that were capable of reaching the moon, and his leadership at the Marshall Space Flight Central was really instrumental in the creation of the Saturn V rocket. This was a powerful launch vehicle that could really carry astronauts to the moon, and they also used this during the Apollo missions. Now, von Braun's ability to translate visionary ideas into everyday practical engineering made him a key figure in America's space efforts. Now, along with this, you have another person by the name of Robert Goddard. Now he's the father of modern rocketry. See, before von Braun worked in the US, robert Goddard was already laying the groundwork for theoretical groundwork with modern rocketry, so he was often called, well, the father of modern rocketry, uh goddard, in the early 20th century really really started to dive into a lot of research on into the concept around liquid fueled rockets. Now, this faced a lot of skepticism and they basically gave him almost no funding at all. However, with his innovations, he was really the first one to successfully launch a liquid-fueled rocket in 1926. And this was really crucial because it showed that the technology could be used in a space race. Now it was Goddard's work that really provided the foundation upon which later advancements were built, including the rockets that would eventually take humans into space.

Speaker 2: 9:27

So as the world entered 1950s, the Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union really began to take on new dimensions, and on October the 4th 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite. The beeping signal from Sputnik that transmitted back to Earth was a clear indication that the Soviets had taken a significant leap in the space race, and this launch sent shockwaves throughout the United States, not just as a technological achievement but also as a political statement suggesting that the Soviets might have gained the critical advantage of critical missile technology. Now, in response to this, in response to Sputnik, president Dwight D Eisenhower really moved quickly to consolidate America's space efforts. So on July 19th 1958, he signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, which was officially known as NASA, and this new agency was really really tasked with catching up to and eventually surpassing the Soviet space achievements. So the creation of NASA really marked the beginning of a new era in US science and technology where space exploration became a national priority. So NASA's mission was very clear, was very clear To land or to lead the country in space exploration, pushed the boundaries of human knowledge and ensured that the US would not fall behind in the space race.

Speaker 2: 10:57

Now, during this time the American public was also gripped with fear and anxiety. The idea of space exploration was incredibly exciting but again it really raised fears about the potential conflict in space and there were also concerns around the militarization of space and possibly that the Soviets could have more of a strategic advantage. And these fears were continued to be exacerbated by the secrecy around the space program for both nations, which really just continued to add to a sense of really a lot of uncertainty. With NASA's establishment the US space program really started to gain some new momentum. So they established Project Mercury, which was NASA's first human or first major human space flight program and it was really tasked with a monumental goal. It was really intended to prove that humans could survive in space.

Speaker 2: 11:50

Now, project Mercury's objectives were pretty straightforward, but yet they were very ambitious To launch a manned spacecraft into orbit the study, you know, really to study the ability of humans and how they function in space and then also, at the same time, to ensure the safe return of both the astronaut and the spacecraft. Now, I think these goals were very critical in the first steps, as it looks more and more like this is becoming a very ambitious plan, and I think that their ultimate mission was thinking well, we can do this in space, but the ultimate mission would be is to land a person on the moon. However, the program did face numerous technical challenges, and this included things such as designing heat shields that could really withstand re-entry and really creating a life support system that was capable of sustaining astronauts in the vacuum of space. Despite the relatively simple goals I don't think they're very simple, but the technical hurdles were extremely immense and overcoming them really required an unprecedented amount of innovation and engineering expertise.

Speaker 2: 12:58

Now, the first major success of Project Mercury came on May 5, 1961, when Alan Shepard became the first American to travel into space on board what they called the flight Freedom 7. Shepard's suborbital flight lasted only 15 minutes but it was monumental because it really demonstrated America's capability of human in space flight. And Shepard, who was also a naval aviator, also a test pilot, he became a national hero. He symbolized that the US is resolved to complete and compete in the space race. He returned to Earth as a national icon and his mission was a significant step towards the complex space missions that lie ahead. But also during this time there was a sense of excitement and intrepidation amongst the American public Now the American public. They watched these early missions, they watched them with bated breath and the successful flight of both Shepard and Glenn. They were not just technical achievements, they were really national victories that helped, you know, to restore American confidence in the face of the Soviet space successes. And I think that you know, to restore American confidence in the face of the Soviet space successes. And I think that you know these missions really proved that America really could compete with the Soviet Union in space and it laid a foundation for even more ambitious goals that would really follow and that included things like the Apollo program.

Speaker 2: 14:32

But just looking back at Project Mercury just a little bit more and diving into the technology. It's really important to highlight the significance of really what this really meant from a technological achievement. Particularly in spacecraft design and material science. Engineers really worked to develop a reliable heat shield that would protect the spacecraft from during re-entry and then, using those materials that they basically would burn away or help dissipate heat. Also, life support systems were also refined that would enable astronauts to survive in the harsh conditions and elements of space. Now, these innovations they would also be used in future missions and that experience gained from the project. You know, project Mercury laid the groundwork again for more complex missions to come, including things like Gemini and Apollo programs. And these are what, basically, what really led to even more technological breakthroughs that proved human spaceflight was also possible and also set the stage for America's eventual triumph in the space race.

Speaker 2: 15:41

Now, with every technical achievement there's also a technical challenge, specifically within Project Mercury, so let me dive into that a little bit more. So when Project Mercury began, there was virtually no experience in manned spaceflight. Everything had to be designed, basically from a spacecraft to understanding the physical and physiological effects of space and how it was going to affect the human body. And then we also had to understand you know what was that really going to mean in terms of kind of humans basically venturing into uncharted territory. So both engineers and scientists were virtually working from scratch. They had no relying, they only really had theoretical knowledge and a very, very limited amount of you know knowledge and a very, very limited amount of experimental data. Now, this really led to a lack of established procedures, and when they started doing testing, that meant that everything had to be created, tested and then refined in real time and then had to do this time and time and time again, and this was part of the you know, the trial and error process, and that's this is what really led to it being very time consuming. And, of course, it definitely was fraught with lots of risk, and each failure that they looked at and evaluated had to be basically had to be looked at from the potential to set the program back significantly. So any mishap, any program that failed, any part of the program that failed, that basically set them back to zero.

Speaker 2: 17:14

Now, also, if you look at some of the limitations, you look at some of the materials, and one of the most critical challenges was developing materials that really could withstand extreme conditions in space. So if we look at things like re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, at the time the materials was not as advanced as degrees Fahrenheit and they had to basically burn away gradually and they had to dissipate heat, and for this it was really a cause for concern because we had to create something that was both lightweight and capable of standing such extreme conditions, and that was basically significant. It was a huge engineering feat and it required extensive amount of research and testing. Now, also during this time, the United States faced a shortage of engineers with a necessary expertise in rocketry and spacecraft design. So many of the engineers who were working on Project Mercury were all new to the field of aerospace engineering. Working on Project Mercury were all new to the field of aerospace engineering. They really kind of had to kind of come from an academic background and then they had to quickly transition from one industry or the next or having, you know, recently just completed their education and their degree and then immediately moving right into the field. And this rapid pace of innovation and development really required us to really, you know, keep up with the Soviet Union space achievements, because these engineers had to learn and adapt very, very quickly and the procedure that not only just the pressure alone for them to succeed with limited resources and with limited knowledge really created a high-stress environment where innovation was crucial but failure could not be afforded.

Speaker 2: 19:16

Now, the technology of the 1950s and 1960s was fairly primitive by today's standards. So if we look at just the computer, the computer, for example, really just had a very rudimentary and really just, you know, they were very primitive in the sense they were massive and they were far less powerful than even today's modern smartphones. Now, this was very limiting in the sense of they had very limited computational power. That, basically, would make the designs and simulations of spacecrafts even more difficult. So it required a lot of people to do a lot of manual calculations and physical prototypes on paper. We look at the communication systems, life support systems and guidance systems these all really had to be designed with these limitations in mind. So every component had to be designed to be reliable, with built-in redundancies to account for potential failures. And this was particularly challenging given the size and weight of the constraints of the actual spacecraft itself. So for every pound of weight that was added to the complexity and the cost of the mission, it had to be offset somehow. Okay. So that's a lot of pressure on young folks coming out of college, just kind of coming right into this new field, new venture for the first time.

Speaker 2: 20:36

But if you think about it, the pressure of the Cold War, the political context of the Cold War, really really, really did add an additional layer of immense pressure to the Mercury program. And the United States was really determined to catch up and really surpass the Mercury program. And the United States was really determined to catch up and really surpass the Soviet Union. And the urgency forced the team to push boundaries whenever technically possible within extremely tight deadlines. There was also a need for secrecy and, due to military implications of space technology, it was also creating of it was. It was creating a various environment where the ability to share information and collaborate more broadly was strictly prohibited. This meant that engineers and scientists working on these projects had to solve problems within isolation without broader input from the wider scientific community. Now, amidst the Cold War rivalry, not just the technical challenges but the drive to outpace the Soviet Union also became a geopolitical struggle. Not just a geopolitical one, but also a cultural one.

Speaker 2: 21:39

Space Race wasn't just about rockets and astronauts and it was really about capturing the hearts and minds of people all over the world. The fear of failing or falling behind, really kind of combined with the thrill of pushing human boundaries, resonated deeply with the public and I believe that this era really is what really kind of spurred the exploration of this permanent every aspect of society. It influenced how people thought about the future and really what their place was in the universe and what their place was and even in their everyday lives. And as you look at the cultural impact of the space race, I think it's clear to say that this was a period that was wasn't just a technical revolution, it was a cultural phenomenon and it really shaped the imagination and the way we looked at the future. So if you look at things such as the cultural impact, you know things that were very popular and can it's very popular in culture at that time. You know the Cold War really fueled the tensions of the space race, that the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union and I think that sense of wonder and fear and hope was also kind of a way for us to invoke certain things within popular culture, so influencing things from television to music, to toys, to music and television and even everyday conversations.

Speaker 2: 23:05

So if we look at, you know, movies and television, the space race really kind of inspired a whole new wave of science fiction. That I think really reflected our science, our society's fascination with space exploration. So perfect example a call upon at the end is the tv show like star trek back in 1966. It really offered a hopeful vision of the future where space exploration was just simply part of everyday life, of the future, where space exploration was just simply part of everyday life and it portrayed space as the final frontier where humanity could explore new worlds and encounter new civilizations. And this optimistic kind of, this optimistic outlook really resonated deeply with a lot of viewers during a time when the real world space program was just unfolding. Star Trek didn't really just it wasn't just entertaining, it also really kind of inspired countless young people to pursue careers in science and engineering and it really contributed to a lot of advancements in space exploration.

Speaker 2: 24:03

Now, in contrast to that, you say well, what about Stanley Kubrick's 2001, a Space Odyssey? Well, I think that movie really took on a more philosophical and visually stunning approach to space exploration. The film's portrayal of space really wasn't just. It wasn't not just realistic, but it was also very thought-provoking. It explored humanity's evolution and our place in the cosmos. And I think what Stanley Kubrick did really really well his meticulous attention to detail and the film's groundbreaking special effects I think it's at a new standard for how science fiction cinema movies really started to kind of you know, kind of fuel the public's fascination with space itself.

Speaker 2: 24:48

The space race also really inspired you know a lot of different music and you know music at the time. I remember growing up as a kid. I remember loving David Bowie's Space Odyssey. That was back in 1969. But that was something that captured the sense and wonder and isolation associated with space travel and released just days it was released just days before the Apollo 11 mission. I think the song kind of became an anthem for that particular era and I think it encapsulated both the excitement and the existential question that space exploration raised. And then the combination of popular music with space themes really kind of helped embody the space race into the cultural consciousness and I think, if I could, I think it made a shared experience across a wide range of different segments of society.

Speaker 2: 25:41

The day of the launch, july 16th 1969. The morning of July 16th 1969 began with a very early day for the Apollo 11 crew. The crew consisted of Neil Armstrong, buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. As the world awaited anxiously, the astronauts started their day at a very early 4.15 am with a breakfast of steak, eggs, toast and coffee and, of course, orange juice, a high-protein meal that was chosen not just first, first, uh, for its nutritional value, but also as part of nasa's tradition that goes all the way back to alan shepherd's first suborbital flight, and the calm routine of this breakfast stood in stark to the contrast to the monumental task ahead, which was humanity's first attempt to land on the moon. Now the astronauts, while they were preparing their tensions, the tensions mounted on the launch pad.

Speaker 2: 26:37

The Saturn V rocket, though meticulously tested, had never really carried such a significant cargo before, especially human cargo. So engineers and technicians were, you know, acutely aware that any single error could turn into a historic disaster. So the memory of the unmanned Apollo 6 test, which experienced issues incurring things like dangerous vibrations that really threatened the rocket's structural integrity, was really fresh in everyone's mind. Now these problems had been addressed and the weight and responsibility and the pressure to succeed was absolutely intense. So I want to talk about the technical aspects of the rocket itself, and this is something that I have always found so very, very interesting is just talking a little bit about the Saturn V rocket.

Speaker 2: 27:35

It was absolutely a behemoth. It was massive and fueling it really required it to be. It was a massive operation just to fuel it required it to be. It was a massive operation just to fuel it. So just a couple of specs are that it carried over 950,000 gallons of fuel and liquid oxygen. Now the first stage alone held about 203,000 gallons, and this was in a form of what they called refined refined form of kerosene and an additional 318,000 gallons of liquid oxygen. Now, filling the tanks was a meticulous and very time-consuming process and to do this it really took several hours to be able to load the rocket with all of its fuel and full components, just to be able to get the fuel ready. And the process had to be carefully managed to ensure that the correct temperatures and specifically the pressures were maintained, because liquid oxygen had to be kept at extremely low temperatures in order for it to retain in liquid form. So when the rockets were fully fueled, the thrusters are ready to burn.

Speaker 2: 28:46

So the Saturn itself it was equipped with five F1 engines and they ignited an approximately 8.9 seconds before liftoff, and this was the period at which the engines were checked for stability and performance, while the rockets were basically remained secure and they were held down by the launch pad clamps. So these few seconds really allowed the engineers to ensure that all five engines were functioning correctly before they committed to the final launch. And then this is what really built up Then, when these stars, when this was sort of happened, is that then the thrust would build up rapidly and then, once the engines reached full power, the holdout arms were then released and then the rocket was able to lift off the pad itself. Now, the sound and the noise of the saturn 5 rocket was incredible. At full thrust, the sound levels reached around 204 decibels at the launch pad, and just to put this in perspective, is 204 decibels is several times louder than a jet engine takeoff, which is around only 140 decibels. The sound was so intense that it could cause physical vibrations felt miles away, and even NASA had to create specialized flame trenches and water suppression systems to help manage the acoustic energy produced by the launch of the rocket. Now, this, of course, was incredible to see.

Speaker 2: 30:15

The public reaction to this was one of absolute awe and amazement the sheer power of the rocket, the intense sound and the visible shock waves impressed everyone who witnessed it there at Cape Canaveral. It was so loud and so it was so immense that the ground shook cars miles away and the war was felt into the chest of spectators who were watching it from 1.6 miles away. And those who watched the launch in person described it as a life-changing experience, one that was both humbling and exhilarating. Now, that was just for people who were just there at Cape Canaveral the day of the launch, the global audience and the world that was watching on television the launch of the Apollo 11 on July 16th 1969, it really was a global event. An estimated 25 million people in the United States alone watched the launch on television Around the world. It was estimated that more than 600 million people tuned in to watch the event unfolding, making it one of the most watched broadcasts in history of all time, and this was incredible because this was a sense of global unity, collectiveness and excitement that was really appealing to people from all walks of life that they were coming together to really witness this extraordinary human achievement.

Speaker 2: 31:39

The launch began July 16th of 1969 at 9.32 am Eastern Standard Time, once the spacecraft was fully engaged and it was already on its way. It was leaving Earth. It left the Earth's orbit in about 2.5 hours after it began the initial launch and that entered its trajectory towards the moon. Now the time it takes to reach the moon. The journey from the Earth to the moon took about 76 hours, with Apollo 11 reaching lunar orbit July 19, 1969, at around 1.28 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Speaker 2: 32:21

Now, neil Armstrong was chosen to be the first man to walk on the moon for several compelling reasons. One of the things I've always wondered about this was why Neil Armstrong and not the others? Well, first of all, armstrong was renowned for his very calm, very stoic and very composed demeanor. Very stoic and very composed demeanor. He had the essential trait for an astronaut facing the unprecedented challenges of space exploration. He had an extensive background as a test pilot, with over 2,500 hours of flying time, and that really provided him with critical experience in handling high-stress situations, and he was also able to make split second decisions and maintain composure under extreme pressure. Now, this experience was truly invaluable because, essentially, considering the uncharted territory, what lied ahead and that the lunar land had presented, I couldn't imagine it being given to anybody else. He truly was an American hero. But his ability to remain calm Also, if you recall a little bit before, was the Gemini 8 mission in 1966.

Speaker 2: 33:34

He was able to maintain his cool and collected manner during a demonstration that successfully began in a nearby dangerous in-space emergency. What happened was that the spacecraft began to spin uncontrollably and Armstrong's quick thinking and precise actions really saved the mission and the lives of the crew. Now this incident really solidified his reputation as somebody who could be trusted with the most critical and most dangerous tasks. Moreover, neil Armstrong was known for his apolitical nature and unwavering focus at the mission at hand, qualities that really made him the ideal representative for this task, given its significant event. This task, given its significant event. Now, unlike some of his other peers, neil Armstrong was really seen as modest and reserved, that he really had the qualities NASA was looking for. He also helped. A desire to kind of help project an image of calm professionalism and also his humanity and preference for letting his actions speak for themselves really made it a very relatable and respected figure, both within NASA as well as the public at large.

Speaker 2: 34:56

Now talking a little bit more about the Gemini rocket now into space. So now we're into space and now we're starting to slowly approach the moon. We now have to consider the lunar orbit or the lunar module design. The decision to have Armstrong stepped out really kind of was first influenced by number one was by the design of the lunar module. The lunar module had a hatch that opened towards the right side of the spacecraft module had a hatch that opened towards the right side of the spacecraft and with Armstrong seated on the left side as the commander, it was simply more practical for him to exit first. The logistical detail really combined with his role as mission commander and it really just kind of just felt natural, because of the way that he was positioned in the spacecraft, for him to lead the way. So, as the sun rose over Kennedy Space Center in 1969, the fully astronauts were transported to the launch pad where they began their ascent into space and into the moon and into the moon.

Speaker 2: 36:09

Now, if we continue on with the lunar, the moon landing, the challenges again, we're going to start facing a whole new set of challenges because, first of all, we've now left the earth, um, now we've got to get this mooning, this moon landing, kind of we got to stick it right, um, the the challenges that they really faced was is was transitioning into really how the moon landing and how crucial it was to recognize this monumental achievement. That took many, many years of innovation and determination and really the ability to overcome challenges that at the time really seemed insurmountable Challenges that at the time really seemed insurmountable. Nasa had to pioneer all new technology and everything had to be new. Everything had to be designed specifically for this mission. It also had to be able to solve for unpredictable problems that make the mission very possible.

Speaker 2: 37:02

Things come up and you need to be able to have a computer system that's reliable and can basically counteract whatever's happening at the time, and one of the most pressing challenges was the navigation system and the guidance of the spacecraft on its journey to the moon. So navigating over a quarter of a million miles in space with pinpoint accuracy was no small feat. Actually, it sounds pretty crazy, but NASA knew that every single minor error in calculation could result in missing the moon entirely or, worse, it could have simply just crashed into the surface of the moon. So NASA did something very interesting. Nasa developed what they called the Apollo Guidance Computer, or AGC. At the time it was one of the most advanced computers ever built, and the reason why was because the Apollo Guidance Computer was designed to really perform calculations and complex calculations in real time. So this really ensured that the spacecraft could stay on course throughout the length of its journey.

Speaker 2: 38:09

Now, this was especially challenging given the fact that the technology available in the 1960s was very limited. So they had to work with what they had to work with. So engineers had to work to build a very, very small computer that was not only capable of handling certain computations and they had to be right but it was also small enough and light enough to be housed with inside the spacecraft itself. So you think of having to build almost kind of like a small little mini tablet that had to be fitted inside the aircraft that could perform real world and real time scenarios in real time. But the key here is, I think, that NASA knew that there were going to be certain items that are going to be required. They needed precise navigation and guidance systems because evidently early on with earlier missions and simulations, the earlier Gemini missions, they really tested various aspects of space travel and it really revealed to NASA the importance of specifically accurate navigation, especially during critical phases such as a lunar orbit insertion and landing, intensive simulations and rehearsals where they highlighted certain potential risks and underscored their need for them to be 100% reliable, 100% real time, and they had to be in basically real time computing systems.

Speaker 2: 39:34

But like anything else, of course, developing this was not without its hurdles. Developing this Apollo guidance computer. One of the initial problems was the limitation of computing power. Just at the time was just not available. The ACG was required to execute thousands of operations per second while maintaining multiple tasks, all within the constraints of a very compact, low power device. So, additionally, the software had to be created, where the software had to be incredibly reliable, so if there were any failures it could not jeopardize the entire mission. So engineers really faced difficulties in every aspect. They had to create a system that would continuously operate in the harshest of environments. Space and the communication delays between Earth and where they were basically orbiting around the moon made real-time remote connections very, very impossible.

Speaker 2: 40:35

One of the other significant challenges was the development of the lunar landing radar. This was another component where it was really essential for the lunar module's descent onto the moon's surface, and this was a radar system that had to provide accurate altitude and velocity information in real time. So this allowed the astronauts to be able to kind of with a joystick, be able to make adjustments during the landing. Now these early tests really revealed issues with radar's performance in the vacuum of space and on the moon's surface, and we have to remember that the moon's surface is very dusty and this could also, basically this could vary and it could also provide some reflectivity and it could interfere with some of the radar's readings. So NASA had to come up with something very quick. They had to redefine and really recreate the radar's readings. So NASA had to come up with something very quick. They had to redefine and really recreate the radar system that it would integrate with inside the guidance computer to make sure that it had a safe landing, even if, in fact, if there was debris in the way. So, throughout the rigorous testing and the iterative improvements and the dedication of thousands of engineers at NASA, they overcame these challenges and, of course, the result was a guidance system that not only guided Apollo 11 to the moon, but it also enabled the safe landing of the lunar module over into the area of what they call the Sea of Tranquility. That was the really cool part.

Speaker 2: 42:01

But one thing I really want to touch on is the communication, the communication from Earth back to the moon where they were able to communicate with the astronauts. So it was a known fact that, going into this, they had to ensure that reliable communication between Earth and the spacecraft was absolutely critical. But there's a vast distance between, you know, the Earth and the moon. So the distance meant that signals would take about 1.3 seconds to travel each way, and NASA needed to maintain a consistent connection to monitor the spacecraft system and provide overall guidance if need be.

Speaker 2: 42:38

So, with inside the communication system, they basically use a communication system that was more along the lines of an S-based system. So what this really means is the primary communication between the spacecraft and the Earth was conducted using an S-band transponder, and this really operated at around 2.28 gigahertz. Now, the range on the S-band is one that has a very long range capability, and this is really essential for deep space communication, and it really allowed the aircraft to communicate over the vast distance of the Earth, or distance from the Earth to the moon, which was approximately 238,000 miles away. That's pretty far, but here's the interesting thing and this is one of the things that I learned, you know, when I was in college taking engineering was the power of the actual communication system, the transmitter for the S band system was only 20 Watts and this was a very, very low power. So even with low power, the signal still could reach earth, uh, but the earth had to have a gigantic antenna and it had to be able to be able to read that antenna so the spacecraft would be able to, would be able to submit highly sensitive, you know, receivers uh, you know, and the receivers at the ground stations would be able to pick this up. So this, this, this is really interesting because, if you think of it, 20 Watts is not a lot of power and, really going to kind of put this into perspective, 20 watts is about the same amount of power that's used by some modern LED light bulbs today. So think about that. So such low power may seem very inefficient for deep space communication, especially compared to modern, you know modern devices. So one modern device you could probably think of is, you know, a Wi-Fi router at home. Many Wi-Fi routers at home, you know. They have power levels between, you know, 100 and 500 milliwatts, and that's far below the 20 watt power of the Apollo S band system. And these routers are really designed for, you know, much shorter distances, usually within the side of a home or office, you think about a cell phone, and a cell phone really just kind of operates. Still the power levels are around I think that's around almost about 2, around 0.6 to about 3 watts per communication or for communication within cell towers, which are really only just a few miles away. It's been pretty incredible and it's, you know, really kind of thinking about this.

Speaker 2: 45:10

You know, in 1969, the communication technology really in the Apollo mission was incredibly advanced and this was really really advanced for its time, though it may seem privative by today's standards. The fact that a 20 watt signal was sufficient to transmit data, voice communication and even a live television stream from the moon to the earth really highlighted the ingenuity of NASA engineers. And, of course, they had to overcome significant challenges such as signal degradation over vast distances and, of course, that need for real time communication when the astronauts were on the lunar surface. So, thinking about it, you know, today's communication has advanced dramatically and we have satellites, we have fiber optics, we've got global networks and we can transmit vast amounts of data, you know, instantaneously across the globe. However, you know, the Apollo missions communications system, I think, really laid the groundwork for these modern advancements and I think this is really kind of showing you what's possible with careful planning, engineering and deep understanding of the physics of radio waves.

Speaker 2: 46:25

So when we think about this, know, this was definitely, um, you know, a team of engineers and scientists and astronauts that really basically really pushed human ingenuity and teamwork to the cutting edge. The technology was cutting edge. It was the human element that truly made the moon landing possible. The teamwork between nas engineers, scientists, astronauts and it was really essential in overcoming all of these challenges to complete a single mission. So engineers at MIT, nasa's Johnson Space Center, contractors like that worked with IBM, worked tirelessly to develop, test and refine systems over and over and over again, leading up to the days of the actual Saturn V launch.

Speaker 2: 47:08

Even the astronauts themselves they were not just pilots, they were really just trained in the operations of spacecraft systems, emergency procedures and even scientific experiments. But the key thing is, their ability to remain calm and focused in these high-stress situations was critical, even during those moments where the lunar modules descent, where neil armstrong had to manually navigate the module in order to avoid basically a boulder that was uh kind of right around the surface of the moon, so he had to almost kind of kind of wing it, to be able to get the lunar module to really kind of work, to land where he wanted to land. Um, you know, you think about the, the lunar module itself, the lunar module to really kind of work, to land where he wanted to land. You know, you think about the lunar module itself. The lunar module really was, you know, designed by, you know, grumman Aircraft, and this, of course, was another piece of, you know, technological achievement, because this is really what made the moon landing possible. The lunar module was the first spacecraft designed specifically for space operations, even with no function within Earth's atmosphere. It had basically two stages One for the descending of the lunar module to the moon surface and the other one for ascending back into lunar orbit. And the really cool thing about what makes the lunar module is its super lightweight construction, and this was really designed to be as light as possible. So they use very thin, very, very thin walls and a structure that balance strength and weight. And this was very, very critical for conserving things like fuel and in serving and ensuring that, you know, the module could take off from the moon's surface. And then, of course, there was the landing gear module itself. So the, the landing gear had to absorb the impact of landing on an uneven surface while being light enough not to burden the spacecraft. So the engineers really had to design, you know, legs that could really extend and compress to manage that landing. So they also had to have things like redundant systems, and there were multiple backup systems with inside the lunar module to make sure that there were redundancies in place that even in the event of a failure, the whole mission could basically still be carried out.

Speaker 2: 49:17

Today, you know, you think about opening doors, you know what this possible, what this, what this did for futures iterations, is I. The technologies really developed during the Apollo program laid the groundwork for future missions and the Apollo guidance computer, the ACG. This was the pioneering field of its time, especially using integrated circuits, and it really was a precursor to the modern-day microprocessor. And that part would then later revolutionize computing industry. And this leap in computing made it possible to develop more advanced spacecraft, more advanced satellites and more advanced space probes that could go farther and farther into the space. And NASA's subsequent missions, such as the Space Shuttle Program, the Mars rovers they all directly benefited from the innovations and lessons learned during the Apollo mission.

Speaker 2: 50:10

But I also think that there's also a huge influence of you know, what the computer and electronics industry had seen is, you know, with the development of the Apollo guidance computer, it really helped drive the advancements in the field of computer science, and what that was is the need for small, reliable and efficient computing power. That really pushed the boundaries of what was possible at the time, leading to miniaturization of electronics. They didn't have to be big, gigantic computers that filled a room. They could be small, miniature and very, very small. They could be very, very lightweight. And this miniaturization not only benefited future space missions, but it also had a lasting impact on the consumer electronics industry. And just the same way that technology enabled a spacecraft to navigate to the moon would eventually lead to the development of personal computers, smartphones and a host of other devices that we are to see here in normal life as well too.

Speaker 2: 51:09

So if you, if I want to round out the segment and really kind of drive this home, here is, I think, probably one of the most you know significant legacies of the moon landing in the way it's inspired, it's really inspired generation of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs. I think this sense of possibility came from seeing what humans could do, where they could walk on the moon, and it encouraged countless of individuals to pursue careers in science and technology, engineering and aeronautics, and it really led to innovations that we really see today. So we look at fields such as robotics, renewable energy and biotechnology, and I think these advancements that made the moon landing possible have a profound and lasting impact, not just in space exploration but in our everyday lives. I think the Apollo program really wasn't about just reaching the moon. It was really more intended around pushing the boundaries of the human capability to set the stage for a technical revolution that really has shaped our modern world today. So, from the computers we use to satellites that connect our global communication systems, the legacy these achievements continue to influence the way we work, we live and explore the universe is profound.

Speaker 2: 52:27

And if I, you know, take a minute to just reflect on the journey that led first humans, you know, to step on the moon, I'm really just struck by the sheer audacity of what was accomplished.

Speaker 2: 52:40

The moon landing was a triumph of human ingenuity, determination and relentless pursuit of knowledge, and it reminds me of the right combination of the vision, the technology and teamwork that we can still achieve, what we can still achieve once we seem like it can be possible, and I think this legacy is not just a chapter in history, but I think it's also a reminder of our potential and our ability to explore and innovate, to know that knows no bounds.

Speaker 2: 53:12

All right, so that was segment one. In our next episode, part two of our series, we're going to dive more into the era of launching satellites into space, a period that revolutionized communication, weather forecasting and global positioning systems, and this was a time when space exploration began to directly influence and enhance Earth on life, and this is where we really start to see it setting the stage and setting the foundation for the connected way in the way that we live in the world today. So again, if you enjoyed this episode, please click the thumbs up, please click the subscribe button. Your feedback is incredibly important to us. Join us next time as we continue to explore the cutting edge of technology. Until then, stay curious, stay informed and, most of all, happy travels.